Realities of College Recruiting Detailed at ALJ Event

National speaker Jack Renkens of Recruiting Realities brought his no-nonsense presentation on college athletic recruiting to Arthur L. Johnson High School on Monday night. 

The presentation, “It’s a Game…Know the Rules” served as a notice to families of student – athletes who are looking to get their degree and play at the college level. 

Renkens is entering his 16th year touring the United States. During this time, Renkens has established himself as one of the top athletic motivational speakers in the nation, presenting at state athletic conferences, football clinics, college financial groups, sport camps, and high school from coast to coast. His speaking tour includes over 170 high schools each year. As a former high school and college coach and athletic director, Jack brings his expertise on the subject to thousands of people throughout the country each year. 

Renkens’s message is never sugar coated. 

“It may not be what some parents want to hear, but it definitely is what they need to hear," said Renkens. "I’m primarily trying to get families to be realistic about the opportunities that are available and to get them to understand it’s about getting your education, not about hitting the ball, kicking the ball, throwing the ball. It’s about finding the right match academically.”

One of the many realities Renkens details are the high expectations of athletes and parents when it comes to having sports pay for a college education. 

“There are a lot of student-athletes out there and less than 1 percent is going to a Division 1 school,” he said. “However you’ve got 99 percent of kids out there that can play at the college level in divisions other than D1. The key is finding the right school and financial aid package.” 

“Student-athletes need to come to terms with three basic realities,” Renkens said: 

·      Number one. You don’t get to pick the school. They pick you.

·      Number two. A college coach can’t recruit you if he / she doesn’t know who you are. Student-athletes need to market themselves.

·      Number three. Don’t get hung up on the words athletic scholarship. Focus on funding comprised of academic money, merit money, grants, endowment and achievement money.

Parents at Arthur L. Johnson High School had an opportunity to hear the truth about college athletic recruiting, the role of their high school coach, the impact of today’s social media and where parents fit into the process.

“Once again Jack Renkens did a fabulous job explaining the realities of the recruiting process to both our student athletes and parents alike," said Gus Kalikas, Supervisor of Athletics, Health, and Physical Education. "Jack’s unparalleled knowledge of this topic was not only valuable and insightful, but he delivers it in such a way that he keeps the audience engaged throughout the presentation. The student athletes of Arthur L. Johnson High School would like to thank Jack for his time and efforts while presenting at Arthur L. Johnson High School.”